when leaders of the world's largest democracies gather, they usually focus on the global economy. but this year's meeting comes at a precarious time in the syrian civil war. seven g-8 countries are on one side. country number 8, russia on the other. >> arriving on a golf retreat to northern ireland, president obama had to leave his clubs stateside and immediately get down to business. tops on his agenda, finding common ground with russia on the issue of syria. but while today was no cold war confrontation, both leaders admitted they disagreed on how to deal with syria. but putin went out of his way to endorse the idea of a negotiated settlement. >> we do have differing perspectives on the problem, but we share an interest in reducing the violence, securing chemical weapons. >> all of us have the intention to stop the violence in syria, to stop the growth of victims, and to solve the situation peacefully, including by bringing the parties to the negotiations table in geneva. >> reporter: putin's words today were decidedly more measured than yesterday when he met with british prime